White Sox

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT WHITE SOX - PAGE 2

The White Sox's 45-43 first half couldn't have been much more nondescript. They were 22-21 at home and 23-22 on the road. The next week will go a long way toward determining whether they are serious buyers at the nonwaiver trade deadline. Heading into tonight, Chicago is in second place in the American League Central, 3 1/2 games behind the Detroit Tigers and a half game ahead of the Minnesota Twins. The White Sox have the fourth-best ERA in the AL at 4.16. The staff is led by ace Mark Buehrle (9-3, 3.66 ERA)

The contrast couldn't have been any more glaring from the first inning Thursday night at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago White Sox starter Edwin Jackson threw 12 of his first 13 pitches for strikes and struck out five of the first seven hitters he faced. Orioles starter Jake Arrieta missed the strike zone with eight of his first 13 pitches, walked three batters in the first inning and needed 35pitches to get the first three outs. Things never got much better for Arrieta, whose night was over after four rocky innings, or for the Orioles, who dropped another series with an 8-0 loss to the White Sox in front of an announced 23,898.

Orioles fans, pinch yourselves. It is just four days until the calendar turns to September and your team is just 3 1/2 games out of first place in the American League East, the O's smallest deficit in the division since June 24. If they remain steady this week against the Chicago White Sox, they can chip into that lead even more this weekend in the Bronx. Take a deep breath. As you wake up today, after the Orioles' 4-3 comeback win over the White Sox, they are tied for the two AL wild card spots with the Oakland Athletics.

It was a costly base-running error by the Chicago White Sox's Gordon Beckham in the fifth inning Tuesday night that helped Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie escape a bases-loaded-and-one-out jam while giving up only one run. Two innings later, it was one swing by Beckham that ruined Guthrie's night and made what has long been a formality into reality for the Orioles. Beckham broke a seventh-inning tie with a three-run homer to center, pushing the White Sox to a 7-5 victory in front of an announced 26,263 at U.S. Cellular Field and clinching the Orioles' 13th straight losing season.

After the Orioles again failed to take advantage of ample opportunities to score in their 4-2 loss Sunday to the reeling Chicago White Sox, there was a strange vibe in the home clubhouse. Yes, the Orioles (76-66) had won three of four against the White Sox to re-position themselves as a player in the American League wild-card race with 20 games to go. But they also know the schedule doesn't get any easier, especially after saying goodbye to the White Sox (57-85), who had lost nine straight games.

CHICAGO - Here at U.S. Cellular Field - where fireworks are launched past center field after every home run the White Sox hit - the Fourth of July celebration on Chicago's South Side occurred at the most inopportune time for the Orioles on Thursday afternoon. After battling back from a two-run eighth-inning deficit to tie the game, the Orioles lost to Chicago, 3-2, in walk-off fashion on Adam Dunn's solo homer in the bottom of the ninth inning prompting a celebration at home plate in front of an announced 21,321 at U.S. Cellular Field.

Chicago (62-59) has treaded water in the American League Central pennant race, going 17-16 in the second half after a 45-43 first half. But that has been good enough for second place in the division. The White Sox have among the best pitching in the AL, and the Orioles will face three starters this week with double-digit wins and ERAs under 4.00. The offense has been middle of the pack, but it has added two hitters since the clubs last played in July. Carlos Quentin is back in the lineup after dealing with a foot injury, and outfielder Alex Rios was claimed from the Toronto Blue Jays this month.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas chipped two teeth when he was hit in the mouth with a ball on a throwing error by pitcher Charlie Hough yesterday.Thomas, who leads the majors with 117 walks and an on-base percentage of .457, also suffered a bruised wrist when he collided with the Kansas City Royals' Terry Shumpert, who was running to first in the second inning.* Lou Gehrig's 1938 Yankees road flannel jersey fetched a record $220,000 at the "Treasures of the Diamond" auction conducted Wednesday night in San Francisco by Richard Wolffers Auctions Inc.The Gehrig jersey becomes the most expensive non-card sports memorabilia item sold.